Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut

           Itwasalmostthreeo’clockwhenMaryJanefinallyfoundEloise’shouse.SheexplainedtoEloise,whohadcomeouttothedrivewaytomeether,thateverythinghadbeenabsolutelyperfect,thatshehadrememberedthewayexactly,untilshehadturnedofftheMerrickParkway.Eloisesaid,"MerrittParkway,baby,"andremindedMaryJanethatshehadfoundthehousetwicebefore,butMaryJanejustwailedsomethingambiguous,somethingaboutherboxofKleenex,andrushedbacktoherconvertible.Eloiseturnedupthecollarofhercamel’s-haircoat,putherbacktothewind,andwaited.MaryJanewasbackinaminuteusingaleafofKleenexandstilllookingupset,evenfouled.Eloisesaidcheerfullythatthewholedamnlunchwasburned—sweetbreads,everything—butMaryJanesaidshe’deatenanyway,ontheroad.Asthetwowalkedtowardthehouse,EloiseaskedMaryJanehowithappenedshehadthedayoff.MaryJanesaidshedidn’thavethewholedayoff;itwasjustthatMr.WeyinburghadaherniaandwashomeinLarchmont,andshehadtobringhimhismailandtakeacoupleofletterseveryafternoon.SheaskedEloise,"Justexactlywhatisahernia,anyway?"Eloise,droppinghercigaretteonthesoiledsnowunderfoot,saidshedidn’tactuallyknowbutthatMaryJanedidn’thavetoworrymuchaboutgettingone.MaryJanesaid,"Oh,"andthetwogirlsenteredthehouse.

           Twentyminuteslater,theywerefinishingtheirfirsthighballinthelivingroomandweretalkinginthemannerpeculiar,probablylimited,toformercollegeroommates.